Phlox plant named &#39;SMOKEY&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Smokey’, characterized by its broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit; freely flowering habit; large inflorescences with bright purple-colored flowers; long flowering period; good garden performance; and tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SMOKEY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Smokey’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new compact and freely-flowering Phlox plants with attractive flower colors.

The new Phlox plant originated from an open-pollination in Haarlem, The Netherlands, of an unnamed selection of Phlox paniculata as the female, or seed, parent, not patented with an unknown selection of Phlox paniculata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands during the summer of 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands since August, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Smokey’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Smokey’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and relatively compact plant habit.     -   2. Freely flowering habit.     -   3. Large inflorescences with bright purple-colored flowers.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Good garden performance.     -   6. Relative tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Phlox and the female parent selection differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are shorter and more compact than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Phlox are more intense purple in         color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox are healthier, stronger and more         tolerant to Powdery Mildew than plants of the female parent         selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata ‘Laura’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Laura’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were more compact than plants of         ‘Laura’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox were faster growing than plants of         ‘Laura’.     -   3 Plants of the new Phlox and ‘Laura’ differed in flower color         as plants of ‘Laura’ had dark lilac-colored flowers with         white-colored centers.     -   4. Plants of the new Phlox were healthier, stronger and more         tolerant to Powdery Mildew than plants of ‘Laura’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Smokey’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Smokey’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring, summer and autumn in 1.5-liter containers and ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Haarlem, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Phlox production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 18° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification:     -   -   Phlox paniculata ‘Smokey’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Phlox             paniculata, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Phlox             paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About six weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly             upright and relatively compact plant habit; overall shape,             broadly obovate; low vigor.         -   Plant height.—About 33.9 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 22.7 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 14.2 cm. Diameter: About             5.5 mm. Internode length: About 2.1 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Upright to about 40° from vertical. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Luster: Slightly glossy. Color: Close to 146C             moderately to strongly tinged with close to N200A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 8.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to ovate; slightly to moderately carinate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire; very finely serrate, inconspicious.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;             towards the margins, tinged with close to 203A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B; towards the margins,             tinged with close to 203A. Fully expanded leaves, upper             surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 144A to 144B.             Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;             venation, close to 144D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 144D moderately tinged with close to             N200A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and             salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal panicles;             flowers face upright to outwardly; panicles roughly             pyramidal in shape; freely flowering habit with about 250             flowers developing per inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; sweet, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about nine             months after planting; long flowering period, plants flower             continuously from July through September in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.             Shape: Oblanceolate. Color: Close to N80C; towards the apex,             close to 145C; immature tube, close to N148C to N148D with             longitudinal stripes, close to N77B; immature calyx, close             to N144D tinged with close to 200A, most prominently towards             the apex.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 19.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 17.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube; free             parts somewhat imbricate. Length: About 3.3 cm; lower 2 cm             fused. Lobe width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Free part,             spatulate. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Texture, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper surface: Matte. Luster,             lower surface: Slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to NN78C; towards the throat, close to N76B;             throat, close to 186A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             N78C; tube, close to N77B. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to 77B to 77C; towards the throat, close to N74B;             throat, close to N77B. With development, color becomes             closer to 84B; towards the throat, close to NN78D fading to             closer to 84C; and throat, close to N77B. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 77B; tube, close to N77B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, campanulate. Length:             About 9 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Narrowly apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 143B tinged with close to 200A, most prominently towards             the apex. When opening, lower surface: Close to N144D tinged             with close to 200A, most prominently towards the apex. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 143A tinged with close to             200A, most prominently towards the apex. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 146D tinged with close to 200A, most             prominently towards the apex.         -   Peduncles.—Length, primary peduncles: About 15.5 cm.             Diameter, primary peduncles: About 3 mm. Length, secondary             peduncles: About 4.9 cm. Diameter, secondary peduncles:             About 2 mm. Aspect, primary peduncles: Erect. Aspect,             secondary peduncles: About 30° from vertical. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 146B to             146C moderately to strongly tinged with close to N200A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:             About 45° from the peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five; filaments fused with petals. Filament length: About             1 mm. Filament color: Close to N77B. Anther length: About             2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong; basifixed. Anther color: Close             to 155A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             1.9 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color:             Close to 150D. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color:             Close to N77B. Ovary color: Close to 143A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be winter hardy to USDA Hardiness     Zone 6. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been     observed to be relatively tolerant to Powdery Mildew; plants of the     new Phlox have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other     pathogens common to Phlox plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Smokey’ as illustrated and described. 